MAM
KidZania India celebrates Independence Day with a Grand MahaWeekend
Mumbai: KidZania India is set to celebrate India’s 77th Independence Day with a spectacular MahaWeekend filled with patriotic fervour and engaging activities from 15 to 19 August, offering Mumbaikars the perfect opportunity to make the most of their long weekend. This year, the child-sized city has joined hands with their purpose partners, Furtado’s School of Music (FSM), and DOMS to create an unforgettable experience for young citizens.
The highlight of the event in Mumbai is the ‘KZ Voices of Freedom’ music performances, powered by FSM. Young musicians can showcase their talents in categories like piano, keyboard, vocals, guitar, ukulele, drums, saxophone, and violin. Participants can pre-register or register on the spot to perform live on the Instruments. All participants will receive exciting rewards, while the performers will be honoured with special gifts and KidZania hampers.
Beyond music, KidZania and DOMS have lined up activities to unleash creativity amongst kids. Kids can express their vision of freedom through the ‘Freedom Expressions Mural Wall’, where they can paint, draw, or write their thoughts. Additionally, the stationary brand is organising a special Umbrella Painting Activity at KidZania on Independence Day, August 15th in Mumbai for kids and adults. This event aims to celebrate India’s heritage and culture through “DOMS celebrates Colors of India.”
Speaking about the exciting long weekend, KidZania India’s head of marketing Hasmukh M Gorava said, “We, along with our purpose partners, are thrilled to create a truly memorable Independence Day experience for our young citizens. This MahaWeekend is a celebration of young India’s spirit, where they can explore their musical talents, unleash their creativity, and experience the thrill of performance. With activities like the ‘KZ Voices of Freedom’ music showcase, the exciting mural art, fun-filled games, and engaging challenges, we aim to inspire a sense of patriotism and pride in our nation’s heritage.”
To encourage physical and mental agility, KidZania has introduced interesting games like the ‘Flag Frenzy Challenge,’ Match the Slogans, and Independence Day Art & Craft Activities that kids can enjoy.
Adding to the excitement, KidZania will host a buzz-worthy flash mob that will be performed by their Zups to patriotic-themed songs. An Independence Day parade featuring children waving Indian flags and Zups dressed in different professions will further amplify the celebratory spirit. Along with this, F&B coupons will be given to all the FSM participants in Mumbai.
The celebration brings together a unique blend of music, creativity, and fun, offering a platform for kids to showcase their talents and embrace the spirit of independence. From musical extravaganzas to thrilling challenges, the Maha Weekend promises to be a day filled with joy, patriotism, and wholesome family time.
Digital
Content India 2026 opens with a copro pitch, a spice evangelist and a £10,000 prize for Indian storytelling
Dish TV and C21Media’s three-day summit puts seven ambitious projects before an international jury, and two walk away with serious development money
MUMBAI: India’s content industry gathered in Mumbai this March for Content India 2026, a three-day summit organised by Dish TV in partnership with C21Media, and it wasted no time making a statement. The event opened with a Copro Pitch that put seven scripted and unscripted television concepts before an international panel of judges, and by the end of it, two projects had walked away with £10,000 each in marketing prize money from C21Media to support development and international promotion.
The jury, comprising Frank Spotnitz, Fiona Campbell, Rashmi Bajpai, Bal Samra and Rachel Glaister, evaluated a shortlist that ranged from a dark Mumbai comedy-drama about mental health (Dirty Minds, created by Sundar Aaron) to a Delhi coming-of-age mystery (Djinn Patrol, by Neha Sharma and Kilian Irwin), a techno-thriller about a teenage gaming prodigy (Kanpur X Satori, by Suchita Bhatia), an investigative crime drama blending mythology and modern thriller (The Age of Kali, by Shivani Bhatija), a documentary on India’s spice heritage (The Masala Quest, hosted by Sarina Kamini), a documentary on competitive gaming (Respawn: India’s Esports Revolution, by George Mangala Thomas and Sangram Mawari), and a reality-horror competition merging gaming and immersive fear (Scary Goose, by Samar Iqbal).
The session was hosted by Mayank Shekhar.
The two winners were Djinn Patrol, backed by Miura Kite, formerly of Participant Media and known for Chinatown and Keep Sweet: Pray & Obey, with Jaya Entertainment, producers of Real Kashmir Football Club, also attached; and The Masala Quest, created and hosted by Sarina Kamini, an Indian-Australian cook, author and self-described “spice evangelist.”
The summit also unveiled the Content India Trends Report, whose findings made for bracing reading. Daoud Jackson, senior analyst at OMDIA, set the tone: “By 2030, online video in India will nearly double the revenue of traditional TV, becoming the main driver of growth.” He noted that in 2025, India produced a quarter of all YouTube videos globally, overtaking the United States, while Indians collectively spend 117 years daily on YouTube and 72 years on Instagram. Traditional subscription TV is declining as free TV and connected TV gain ground, forcing broadcasters to innovate. “AI-generated content is just 2 per cent of engagement,” Jackson added, “highlighting the dominance of high-quality human content. The key for Indian media companies is scaling while monetising effectively from day one.”
Hannah Walsh, principal analyst at Ampere Analysis, added hard numbers to the picture. India produced over 24,000 titles in January 2026 alone, with 19,000 available internationally. The country now accounts for 12 per cent of Asia-Pacific content spend, up from 8 per cent in 2021, outpacing both Japan and China. Key exporters include JioStar, Zee Entertainment, Sony India, Amazon and Netflix, delivering over 7,500 Indian-produced titles abroad each year. The top importing markets are Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, the United States and the Philippines. Scripted content dominates globally at 88 per cent, with crime dramas and children’s and family titles performing particularly strongly.
Manoj Dobhal, chief executive and executive director of Dish TV India, framed the summit’s ambition squarely. “Stories don’t need translation. They need a platform, discovery, and reach, local or global,” he said. “India produces more movies than any country, our streaming platforms compete globally, and our tech and creators win international awards. Yet fragmentation slows growth. Producers, platforms, and tech move in different lanes. We need shared spaces, collaboration, and an ecosystem where ideas, technology, and people meet. That is why we built Content India.”
The data, the pitches and the prize money all pointed to the same conclusion: India is not waiting for the world to discover its stories. It is building the infrastructure to sell them.
